The Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns have two of the more intriguing training camp battles at quarterback. With the first preseason matchups set for this weekend, the Colts and Browns have named who will start under center at QB.
Indianapolis Colts Training Camp QB Battle Update
#Colts head coach Shane Steichen shared the plan for the quarterbacks for the first two preseason games.
Anthony Richardson Sr. will start against the Ravens and Daniel Jones will start against the Packers. pic.twitter.com/16aOIdKXKe
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) August 5, 2025
The Colts’ 2023 first-round pick will get the first crack at quarterback.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Tuesday that Anthony Richardson will start in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Richardson will play about a “quarter and a half” before being relieved by Daniel Jones to finish the quarter.
This does not mean Richardson will start Week 1 for the Colts. The quarterback competition is still underway, and no winner has been determined.
Steichen will switch up the order in the second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Jones will start and play for one and a half quarters before being subbed out for Richardson.
“In a perfect world, that’s how I want it to play out,” Steichen said to reporters via Colts.com.
Steichen is being extremely meticulous and fair with the quarterback competition. Richardson and Jones are evenly splitting first-team reps in every drill. This rang true in Tuesday’s joint practice against the Ravens.
Steichen has not provided a timetable for when he will choose a starting quarterback. At the very least, it will come after the Colts’ second preseason game.
The Colts desperately want things to work out with Richardson, considering they used a high draft pick on the Florida quarterback. Jones was brought in to push Richardson and provide some competition. However, Jones could end up winning this job if he outplays Richardson in practice and the preseason.
The Colts take on the Ravens in Baltimore on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Cleveland Browns Training Camp QB Battle Update
#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders is expected to start Friday night's preseason opener on the road vs. the #Panthers with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both nursing hamstring injuries, source tells clevelanddotcom: —-> https://t.co/rGobOe9RtW
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 5, 2025
With injuries mounting in Cleveland, the Browns will turn to their fifth-round draft pick in the preseason opener.
Per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Shedeur Sanders is expected to start the Browns’ preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. ET.
Sanders gets the start despite having no reps with the first-team offense during training camp.
Joe Flacco is listed as the team’s first-team quarterback on the depth chart. However, the Browns do not need to risk an injury playing the 40-year-old Flacco during the preseason.
Speaking of injuries, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are not expected to play on Friday due to hamstring issues.
The Browns signed free agent Tyler Huntley on Tuesday. Huntley will likely relieve Sanders at some point during the game.
If Sanders ever wanted a chance to prove he belongs in the NFL, Friday night provides a golden opportunity to prove his detractors wrong.
